Abstract:

Basically, the combustion of woody biomass in high temperature processes results in a
long lasting addition of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. When harvesting large extra amounts
of stem tree for energetic use, a global as well as secular time frame is needed to assess overall
consequences if due attention is to be given to biosphere processes, including the complex productivity of
whole ecosystems. Analytically, a time dependent variable of carbon neutralization can be traced by
a simple carbon neutrality or CN factor. Using the (forgotten) Marland approach, project managers
should document how a pay-back of the whole carbon debt incurred by their projects proceeds
over time. As recommended by the European Parliament in May 2011, this methodology should be
applied consistently in climate and energy policies when revising the failures of the ‘instant carbon
neutrality’ approach for smokestack emissions that was propagated within the Kyoto process, the
first phase of which is ending in 2012. Otherwise, we allow that the substitution of wood pellets
for coal or other fossil fuels creates long lasting extra emissions of carbon dioxide. This is a climate
policy mistake which carbon trading systems such as that of the EU ETS do not compensate for,
but instead amplify by giving extra credits for further pollution. This contradicts the very purpose
of the UNFCCC, namely to prevent environmental degradation.

Conclusions:

The two combined shortcomings of the way, in which
the UNFCCC has been implemented by the Kyoto
Protocol, spatial fragmentation by the withdrawal
of North America; and temporal uncertainties in
the relation between technosphere and biosphere
processes in the combustion of woody biomass, have
strong implications for the remaining chances to
reach the politically desired outcome of stabilising
the global climate below critical increases of 2 to 2.5
oC over pre-industrial levels. As remedial action it
is crucial to re-evaluate the extended use of woody
biomass for energy purposes, because Europe with its
premium on fossil fuel substitution acts as a chaotic
attractor point. Technical issues and biosphere
processes indicate that a time-sensitive analytic
approach as the calculation of varying C/N factors
is mandatory for the evaluation of local projects,
where CO2 neutralisation must be documented
as a process over decades and/or centuries. In this
way, the loopholes in carbon accounting can be
eliminated that were created by the assumption of
instant carbon neutrality for all biomass combustion.
A more realistic outlook is mandatory in order to
prevent a use of forest products that accelerates
global warming and on the ground undermines the
very stabilisation of vulnerable ecosystems and spaces
for human livelihood, which is a policy target.